Opium is the religion of the masses

[aschueler]

Opium is the religion of the masses
 
The rich throw us under their mill,
indiscriminately grind our flesh & bones,
yet forbid us poppies to succor
our mental anguish or quite our pitiful moans.
 
erthona
 
©2017 

You've got lots of responses to such few lines!

As a practicing primary care physician I see a lot of drug addiction and this is the general gist I get when I tell them they need to stop/change/I won't refill your pain meds etc etc.  It's complicated, and there is a definite sense of holy entitlement present as you have mentioned.

I hated the word succor.  But then, I always have. Other ideas I had went from a verbalized form of unguent (which is a secret favorite word of mine), to salve (which made me snicker, long story).  What about soothe?